Collapsible ironing board



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%M W w w z e e M 3,004,356 COLLAPSIBLE IRONING BOARD William Picken, 2415 41st St., Long Island City, N.Y. Filed Aug. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 48929 4 Claims. (Cl. 38-417) This invention relates to improvements in collapsible ironing boards of the general type disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,466,556, which is characterized by a novel construction of foldable leg structure for supporting the board, and which can be folded flatly against the underside of the board when collapsed subject to unfolding extension thereof to board supporting condition.

This invention has reference, more particularly, to a foldable leg structure for ironing boards comprising a frame member swingably connected with the rear end portion of the board, to which frame member laterally spreadable rear legs are pivotally connected, a down-swinging front leg means pivotally connected with the board to extend forwardly from said frame member, a collapsible toggle hinged brace bar means pivotally connected to board and to said frame member to extend therebetween and having releaseable slide bolt means for positively locking the same in its extended operative position against collapse; and the leg structure further including a telescopically extensible stay or tie link means interconnected between said frame member and said front leg means.

An object of the present invention is to provide means manipulatable to swing in and out the laterally spreadable legs of the rear frame member including means to prevent movement of the frame member from its downfolded collapsed condition until said legs are first fully outswung to their out spread supporting position relative to the frame member, thus preventing extension of the board supporting leg structure, as a whole, to open condition until said legs of the frame member are moved to operative supporting positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of the spreadable legs of the rear frame member and an improved connection thereof with said frame member, whereby when said legs are outspread the same are rigidly braced against vibration or sway relative to the frame member, so as to assure stability and steadiness of the supported ironing board in use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simplified and improved mounting of the front leg means of the board supporting leg structure, whereby not only better stability of the board in use is assured, but also a greater extent of free board is provided for convenient manipulation thereon of material being ironed.

The above and other objects will be understood from the following description of an embodiment of the present invention in connection with the accompanying drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of an ironing board with its leg structure collapsed; and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof with the leg structure collapsed.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 2, but drawn on an enlarged scale; FIG. 4, is a horizontal sectional view and part elevation in plan, taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 55 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view, similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the spreadable legs of the rear frame member out swung, preparatory to opening out of the collapsible leg structure to ironing board supporting condition.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the ironing board showing, by full lines, the leg structure extended to board supporting position and, by broken lines, the initial move- 3,004,356 Patented Oct. 17, 1961 2 ment of the leg structure from collapsed to extended position.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 8-8 in FIG. 7.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 10 indicates the body of an ironing board. Secured to the underside of the ironing board 10, inwardly of the rear end of the latter, are laterally spaced apart bearing members 11, to the upper forward parts of which are pivotally connected the upper end of a front leg structure of the ironing board. Said front leg structure comprises a pair of leg sections 12, which are preferably made of metallic tubing, such as aluminum tubing of polygonal crosssectional shape. From their pivotal connections with the bearing members 11, said leg sections convergingly extend toward each other so as to be joined to their free ends by a cross bolt 13. Carried by said cross bolt 13, so as to extend between the free ends of said leg sections 12, is a foot piece 14, which is preferably made of rubber or like material. This front leg structure, when collapsed, is adapted to lie flatly parallel to the underside of ironing board 10.

Pivotally connected to the lower rearward parts of the bearing members 11 is the upper end of a transverse frame member F. Said frame member F is formed by transversely spaced side pieces 15, preferably made of aluminum tubing of polygonal cross-sectional shape, the upper ends of which are pivotally supported by said bearing members 11. Rigidly connected with and between the lower end portions of said side pieces 15, to respectively bridge between the front and rear faces thereof, is a front panel 16 and a rear panel 17. These panels 16 and '17 are reenforced by a cross piece 18 disposed to extend intermediate and contiguous to the upper marginal portions of said panels. Affixed to and between said panels 16 and 17 is a centrally disposed and longitudinally extending bracket bar 19, having an outer end portion projecting freely beyond the lower margins of said panels. Afiixed to the sides of the projecting end portion of the bracket bar 1y, so as to be supported and laterally spaced thereby, are a pair of bracket plates 20.

A collapsible toggle hinged brace bar means is connected between the underside of the ironing board 10 and the lower free end of the frame member F. This brace bar means comprises a lower part formed by a single brace bar section 21 and an upper part formed by a pair of transversely spaced brace bar sections 22, free end portions of which respectively overlap opposite sides of the inner portion of the brace bar section 21. Said lapped portions of the brace bar sections 21 and 22 are toggle hinged by a pivotal connection 23. The outer end of the lower brace bar section 21 is pivotally connected at 24 to and between the bracket plates 20 with which the lower free end of the frame member F is provided. The upper brace bar sections 22 are pivotally connected by hearing members 25 to the underside of the ironing board 10, at a position forwardly spaced relative to the pivotal connection of the frame member F with said board. The inner end portion of the lower brace bar section 21 is hollow and outwardly open, and slidably mounted therein is a bolt bar 26. Carried by said bolt bar 26 is a transversely disposed lock pin, the opposite ends of which respectively project through slotways 27 provided in the side walls of said hollow end portion of the lower brace bar section 21, thus providing oppositely and externally projecting lock studs 28. Connected with the outwardly extending end of the bolt bar 26 is a finger piece or loop 29, by means of which the bolt bar can be manipulated. The end portions of the upper brace bar sections 22 which lap the lower brace bar section 21, are respectively provided, in opposition to the sides of the latter, with lock bosses or blocks 30. Said lock bosses or blocks are provided at their inner ends with outwardly open longitudinal lock stud receiving slots or notches 31. When the brace bar means is collapsed, itwill lie flatly against the'underside of the ironing board 16 and between the leg sections 12 of the front leg structure.

A telescopical stay or tie link means is interconnected between the free end of the front leg structure and the frame member F, the same comprising a hollow tubular barrel section 32, pivotally connected at 33 by its rearward end to and between the bracket plates 2% with which the lower free end of the frame member F is provided. A tie rod 34 is pivotally connected at 35 to the free end of the front leg structure 12. This tie rod 34 slidably extends into the interior of the barrel section 32, and terminates within the latter in a stop head 36, which abuts a guide bushing 37 afixed to the receiving end of said barrel section 32. When the leg structure is collapsed the barrel section 32 will flatly overlie the collapsed brace bar means.

Laterally swingable rear leg members are carried by the frame member F to extend therefrom at each side thereof. Each rear leg member'comprises an oblique outwardly inclined straight shaft 38, having an inturned free end portion 39, the extremity of which is preferably provided with a foot piece-40, preferably made of rubber or like resilient material. The upper end portions of the rear leg shafts 33 are entered between the panels 16-17 of the frame member F, and are connected to the panels by pivotal connections 41 which are inwardly offset relative to the lower ends of the side pieces 15 of said frame member F, so that when the leg shafts 38 are outwardly swung to operative positions relative to the frame member F, from an infolded position occupied when the board supporting structure is collapsed, said rear legs shafts will engage the ends of said side pieces 15 (see FIG. 6), whereby to be braced thereby against vibration or sway, thus assuring stable support of the board against lateral swayor vibration, when the board supporting structure as a whole is extended to its operative board supporting condition.

Means is provided for moving the rear leg members 33 from inswung or infolded positions (see FIG. 1), in which they lie within the confines of the sides of the ironing board 10, to their outswung or extended operative positions (see FIG. 6). This means comprises a central slide piece 42 having a finger piece 43 by which it can be manipulated. Pivotally connected to opposite sides of the slide piece 42 are stay links 44 which respectively extend to and are pivotally connected to the respective rear leg shafts 38. .Saidslide piece 42, when the board supporting structure as a whole is collapsed, overlies the barrel section 32 of the heretofore described stay or tie link means, and said slide piece is provided with guide rollers 45 to respectively engage opposite sides of said barrel section 32 under each condition. Said barrel section 32 is provided, in the outer face thereof over which the slide piece 42 rides, with a longitudinal slotway 46 which terminates at its outer end in an enlarged opening 47 giving egress and ingress to the interior of the barrel section 32, mounted on the slide piece 42, to project from the inner face thereof, is a stud 48 which enters the interior of the barrel section 32 through the slotway 46, said stud having an enlarged head 49 to straddle said slotway 46 in engagement with the underlying wall of said barrel section.

When the board supporting structure as a whole is collapsed with the rear legs 38-39 still outspread and the frame member F down folded, the slide piece 42 will be positioned with itsheaded stud 48-49 positioned at the outer end of the slotway 46 in alignment with the opening 47 of the slotway 46 for entrance 'therethrough into the interior of the barrel section 32 of the brace bar means. The parts being thus disposed, the slidepiece 32 is manually slid rearward, thus moving the headed stud 48-49 to the rearward end of the slotway 46, and by so doing exerting draft upon thestay links 44, thereby to swing inward the rear legs 38-39 to infolded positions (see FIG. 1). Under these conditions, due to the anchoring engagement of the headed stud 48-49 with the brace bar barrel section 32, the frame member F is locked down in its collapsed conditionagainst opening extension (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4), until the slide piece 42 is again moved forward to carry the headed stud 48-49 into register with the egree-ingress opening 47 of the slotway 46, subject to outward withdrawal therethrough. When ll'lllS moved, the slide piece 42 exerts thrust upon the stay links 44 and thereby swings out the rear leg 38-39 to their operative board supporting positions, and thereupon the frame member F can be swung out to its operative extended position to effect extension of the board supporting structure as a whole. By reason of this arrangement, it will be obvious that the frame member F can not be outswung from its collapsed condition, nor can the board supporting structure as a whole be extended, until the rear legs 38-39 of the frame member are completely outswung to their operative board supporting positions. This is of marked advantage over my prior patented construction disclosed in my heretofore identified patent, since it compels the fully outspread and braced disposition of said rear legs 38-39 against inward collapse preliminary to extension of the board supporting structure as a whole, and therefore assurese a stable non-swaying and non-vibratory support of the board when the latter is extended to operative condition.

When the slide piece 42 is .slid forward to release the frame member F from the brace bar 32, said slide piece is moved somewht beyond the axis of alignment of the stay links 44, so that the latter are swung somewhat be 1 yond dead center and stopped against the ends of the slide piece (see FIG. 6), thereby holding the rear legs 38-39 firmly braced against accidentfl in-swinging displacement.

When the board supporting structure is operatively extended by out-swinging the frame member F, the front leg structure 12 will swing down to operative board supporting position, the tie link means32-34 will be extended between the front leg structure 12 and the frame member F, and the brace bar means 21-22 will be aligned for diagonal extension between the underside of the ironing board 10 and the frame member F (see FIG. 7). After the board supporting structure is thus extended to operative condition, the aligned brace bar sections 21-22 can belocked against collapse by pushing the bolt bar 26 inwardly into the brace bar section 21, so that the lock studs 28 are carried into the receiving slots or notches 31 of the lock bosses or blocks 30, thus rigidly interlocking the brace bar sections 21-22 against relative hinging movement about their pivotal interconnection 23, thereby positively and securely holding the extended leg structure as a whole in operative ironingboard supporting condition.

To release the extended leg structure for movement to infolded collapsed condition, the bolt bar 26 is pulled outward to withdraw the lock studs 28 from the lock bosses or blocks 30, thus permitting the brace bar sections 21-22 to turn about their pivotal connection 23, so as to collapse and fold together, thereby causing the frame member F to swing down over the barrel, section 32 of the tie link means, and the headedstud 48-49 of the slide piece 42 to enter through the egress-ingress opening 47 into the barrel section 32. This having been done, the slide piece 42 is slid inward along the barrel section 32, whereby to swing inward the rearlegs 38-39 of the frame member F, while at the same time carrying the headed stud 48-49 to the rear end of theslotway46, thus interlocking together the frame member F and brace bar section 21 against opening movement, as already above explained.

It will be noticed that sinze the front leg structure 12 and frame member F are adjacently hinged to the board at its rear end by the common bearing member 11, a maximum distance is provided between such hinging point and the hinging connection of the brace bar means 21-42 to the board lti, whereby a maximum extent of free board is provided for convenient manipulation of material being ironed on the board when the latter is supported by the extended leg structure.

Having now described my present invention, I claim:

1. An ironing board having a collapsible leg structure comprising a transverse frame member and a forwardly extending front leg means swingably connected to the rear end portion of the board, laterally spreadable rear legs extending rem the free end of said frame member, a manipulatable slide piece intermediate said rear legs, laterally extending stay links pivotally interconnected to and between said slide piece and said rear legs, a telescopic tie link means pivotally interconnected to and between said front leg means and said frame member, said tie link means including a tubular barrel section extending from the frame member, said slide piece being adapted to slidably overlie said barrel section when the leg structure is collapsed, said barrel section having a longitudinal slotway terminating at its forward end in an enlarged egress-ingress opening, said slide piece having a headed stud to enter through said egress-ingress opening into the barrel section when the frame member is down folded over said barrel section under collapsed condition of the leg structure, whereby, after movement of the slide piece to carry the headed stud to the rearward end of said slotway, not only to cause the stay links to draw the spreadable rear legs to inswung collapsed position but also to interlock the downfolded frame member with said barrel section against outswinging movement until said rear legs are first outspread to operative positions by reverse movement of the slide piece, a foldable brace bar means interconnected between the forward portion of the ironing board and the frame member, and manipulatable means to releasably lock said brace bar means in operative extension between said board and frame member.

2. An ironing board having a collapsible leg structure according to claim 1, wherein the slide piece is provided with laterally spaced guide rollers to embrace opposite sides of the barrel section when the slide piece overlies the latter.

3. An ironing board having a collapsible leg structure according to claim 1, wherein the frame member comprises side pieces and front and rear panels extending between the outer end portions of said side pieces, and wherein the rear legs comprise shafts having straight portions terminating in inturned free end portions, the inner end portions of said straight shafts being entered between said panels and connected thereto by pivotal connections inwardly off set relative to said frame member side pieces, whereby, when said rear legs are outspread, the inner ends of their shafts will abut the ends of said frame side pieces so as to be firmly braced thereby against sway and vibration.

4. An ironing board having a collapsible leg structure according to claim 1, wherein the frame member and the front leg means are respectively pivotally connected by respective pivotal connections to a common bearing means mounted on the rear portion of the board, Whereby to provide a maximum extent of free space between such connections and the connection of the brace bar means with the forward portion of the board.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,352,389 Keller June 27, 1944 2,466,556 Picken Apr. 5, 1949 2,908,984 L-antz Oct. 20, 1959 

